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Two Upper Sandusky Schools to Receive “Schools of Promise” Awards:
Only 134 Schools in the State Qualify for This Distinction
Union Elementary and South Elementary School were designated by State Superintendent Deb Delisle as two of only 134 schools in the state as “Schools of Promise.” Although there are about 4,468 schools K-12 in the state of Ohio, only those schools with a 40 percent or more economically disadvantaged rate qualify for this award. Regardless, the reception of this award is undoubtedly both prestigious and distinctive.
The criteria for this award are many:
1. the school must serve 40 percent or more economically disadvantaged students for the 2008-2009 school year;
2. the school must meet state-set AYP (annual yearly progress) standards, standards which indicate collective advancement or progress on test scores from the previous year;
3. at least 75% of all students in grades 3 passed the 2008-2009 Ohio Achievement Test in reading or mathematics (or both);
4. at least 65% of all students in grade 3 passed the 2007-2008 Ohio Achievement Test in reading or mathematics (or both);
5. at least 75% of all economically disadvantaged students in grade 3 passed the 2008-2009 Ohio Achievement test in reading or mathematics (or both);
6. at least 75% of all racial subgroups (of 5 or more students) in grade 3 passed the 2008-2009 Ohio Achievement Test in reading or mathematics (or both);
AND
7. the school received a “met” or “above” rating for the 2008-2009 Value Added Composite Score (another indicator of collective improvement on the scores from the previous year).
These criteria apply to students statewide in testing grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12 as well.
If any one of the above seven criteria is not met, a school does not qualify, which explains why the award is so elusive and has only been achieved by 134 schools statewide based on last year's state test scores.
State Supt. Deb Delisle says, “High expectations and a strong system of learning supports can help student overcome high levels of poverty. These 'Schools of Promise' recognize the challenges students in poverty face and have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping their students succeed.” “Courageous leadership, caring teachers, and a positive school environment,” she said, “ have contributed to the success of these schools and their students.”
We wish to congratulate Laurie Vent, elementary principal at both of these buildings: our curriculum coordinator, Janine McMillan; the wonderful students we have who strive to achieve academic excellence; the supportive parents we have who encourage their children and send them to school ready to learn; the many volunteers and mentors we have, many who have helped prepare students for many years faithfully, quietly, and thanklessly without the recognition they deserve; the caring community we have which always supports its children and its schools commendably; and last but definitely not least, the strong and dedicated staff of teachers committed to the achievement of academic excellence for ALL students, regardless of gender, race, or economic background.
When we say it takes an entire community to educate a child, we mean that it takes all of us working together to be successful with our children. For this reason, all of us can rejoice in the reception of prestigious awards like these because with one part missing or not doing its part, academic excellence cannot be achieved.
Congratulations to all of you on a job well done! Seeing our students do well is great cause for joy for all of us!
On the Financial Picture, I wish I Had Better State News to Report, But . . .
State Superintendent Deb Delisle's most recent projections shared with us on September 29, 2009 ñ released shortly after the Governor was informed that he would not be permitted to use VLT revenue to balance his budget ñ reflects a 10.31% DECREASE in funding projected for Ohio's schools across the board in FY2010 and a 15.74% DECREASE in funding for Ohio schools in FY 2011.
Contrast this with the Governor's original projections 6 to 8 months ago when we were told we would receive a 15% INCREASE in funding for FY 2010 and a 10.6% INCREASE in funding for FY 2011. (At the time, we jokingly said to ourselves we would believe it when we received it.)
The State Superintendent's most recent projections reflect a 25.31% shift to the NEGATIVE for FY10 and a 26.34% shift to the NEGATIVE in FY11, which equals a 51.65% shift to the NEGATIVE over the biennium, an absolutely irresponsible and inexcusable action unsurpassed in irresponsibility in my 30 years plus as an administrator! Don't we, in Ohio, deserve more responsible and accountable leadership?
What makes matters worse is that despite our projected decreases due to the state's lack of responsible planning and its failure to get its act together in meeting the state requirement for a balanced budget, still, as part of Ohio law, are NEW STATE requirements which do not address ways for school districts to:
* fully (or even partially fund) the hiring of 10 to 15 ADDITIONAL OR NEW staff people (who, in my opinion, will do little, if anything, to truly improve the quality of education that our children will receive);
* fully (or even partially fund) all-day, everyday kindergarten;
* fully (or even partially fund) the equivalent of 3 mills for every school district in the state of Ohio as the charge-off is reduced from 23 mills to 20 mills;
* fully (or even partially fund) the lower pupil-teacher ratios, eventually to the level of 15 pupils to 1 teacher in grades K-3, let alone all the new classrooms that will need to be built to accommodate such ratios (8 classrooms for K-3 at Upper Sandusky alone) / and the 25 to 1 pupil-teacher ratios in all other classes and grade levels; and
* fully (or even partially fund) the proposed addition of 20 additional days to the school year.
As if the above were not enough, the state has made stimulus money part of the state's basic aid for education – something I strongly disagree with – because I am sure that all of us are smart enough to figure out the crisis that Ohio schools will face again in two years when the stimulus money runs out!
Isn't it past due when all of us stand up and say that we're tired of irresponsible mandates and spending at the state and federal levels because we are “on to you”? Isn't it past time when we say: First fund what we have before you mandate more because we know it all ultimately comes back to us in the form of new taxes AT THE LOCAL LEVEL? Isn't it time that we insist that government not determine what is best for us locally and especially when THEY cannot fund what THEY/ WE currently have in place to produce a quality education?
If all of us do not take a stand and make our voices heard, each of us will be paying for the education of children in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Columbus, Toledo and Canton without doing one single solitary thing to improve education here in Upper.
I wish I had happier information to report, but you chose me to be your superintendent, so the honest but grim truth is what I will share with you.
Sorry to report this, but . . .
Yours for education,
Ken Doseck, Superintendent
Continued...
Yours for education,
Ken Doseck, Superintendent |
